2011 NFL Mock Draft: Top Tier Quarterbacks Rule the Round
I never wanted to do this. I never wanted to be one of those people that made a preseason mock NFL draft. In my mind, that’s crossing that last boundary between being a fan of something and being obsessed with it.
I was forced to toss that notion to the side today. As I watched Mel Kiper and Todd McShay “fight” on ESPN earlier, i shook my head and said oh no here we go again.
It was somewhere between Mel Kiper throwing out a blanket John Brantley future star claim, or maybe it was Todd dubbing Noel Devine an underclassmen when I said oh no, this can’t be what the public relies on for their draft information.
I’ll be frank, I don’t have any dislike for Kiper and McShay as ESPN entertainers, but the point has to be made that they are sketchy preseason evaluators.
A lot of their top preseason players are usually overranked, and they have a tendency to raise the hopes of some players (Jevan Snead, Fili Moala, etc.) up a little too high.
So if they can do it, then I guess I can too. Here’s an early view of how I see next year’s NFL Draft potentially playing out.
I think it's silly to try and predict an order of teams, but here's an idea of how I would rate the prospects at this point.
For more in depth information on this year's top prospects, check out my 2011 NFL Draft: College Football Scouting Guide.
Part 1: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436468-2011-nfl-draft-college-football-scouting-guide-part-1
Part 2: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436806-2011-nfl-draft-college-football-scouting-guide-part-2
1st pick: QB Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State
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The best athlete in college football offers the team picking number one (probably the Bills) a chance to have an elite game changer for the next decade.
Pryor will take some time and patience to adapt to the passing game of the NFL, but once he matures, he has all the skills of a potential superstar.
The junior Buckeye is the type of prospect that could change the NFL’s perceptions of purely “athletic” quarterbacks.
2nd Pick: QB Jake Locker: Washington
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Locker is the golden boy of the class already, even though he’s yet to play a down this season.
With the help of Steve Sarkisian, he has the physical makeup to live up the hype. The only thing is—now the sky isn’t the limit, it’s the expectation.
If Locker falls out of the top five, he’ll have failed to meet many expectations.
3rd Pick: DE Robert Quinn: North Carolina
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Quinn’s sophomore totals—11 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss—are nice, but you have to really look at Robert Quinn, the player, to truly appreciate him. Stats don’t tell the story, you have to watch Quinn rush the quarterback to get a good grasp on his potential.
He’s not huge, but he plays the game like a wrestler would, and makes his weight work in his favor.
To put it simply—Quinn’s an animal.
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4th Pick: WR Michael Floyd: Notre Dame
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If it weren’t for his injury last season, it would be Floyd receiving all the preseason love instead of A.J. Green and Julio Jones.
As it stand now, the Notre Dame junior is the best bang for your buck pass catcher in the country.
At 6‘3" 225 lb, Floyd has the size and athleticism to be a top five pick if he can turn the jets on this season.
5th Pick: OT Anthony Castonzo: Boston College
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Castonzo is the best zone blocking offensive line prospect in this year’s class. He’s started every game since his freshman year, and the 6‘7" 290 pound tackle is reliable in both the run game and the passing game.
He’s a dependable and experienced player that can come in and compete right away.
6th Pick: CB Patrick Peterson: LSU
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Looks like a safety, runs like a corner, makes plays like a linebacker—that’s the kind of defensive combination LSU’s Patrick Peterson can offer an NFL team.
At 6‘1" 220 lbs, he’s a rarity, the type of player that will get some heavy looks this season. He’s got everyone’s attention, now it’s time for Peterson to make the plays.
7th Pick: LB Akeem Ayers: UCLA
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He’s getting there.
Last year’s bowl game against Temple showed everyone that Akeem Ayers is indeed rising to that top linebacker in the country spot that many felt he was capable of reaching.
Ayers is still a little hesitant at times, but when he’s out in space, running around—there isn’t any other linebacker in the country that can do what he does.
8th Pick: CB Curtis Brown: Texas
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Somehow Curtis Brown managed to keep a pretty low profile during his three year career in Austin. There was that one little mistake in the Texas Tech game for millions to see, but outside of that, it’s been a largely positive yet under the radar career for Brown.
Look for Curtis and junior Aaron Williams to break out as the stars of the Longhorns’ secondary this season in the wake of Earl Thomas’ departure.
Brown’s ball skills aren’t elite, but his cover skills could be.
9th Pick: QB Andrew Luck: Stanford
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Just a redshirt sophomore, Andrew Luck has already shown the tools of a future first rounder in just one season of play.
He’ll have to prove he can move the offense consistently without workhorse running back Toby Gerhart, but Luck has the makeup of a potential franchise player that should really open some scouting eyes this season.
10th Pick: DE Aldon Smith: Missouri
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The tile of best pass rusher in college football gets debated a lot around different circles, but if there’s one name that deserves to be in the conversation—it’s Aldon Smith of Missouri.
As a redshirt freshman, Smith broke Missouri’s all time single season sack record with 11. 5 takedowns.
He has the frame and athleticism to grow into an elite pass rusher at the pro level.
11th Pick: LB Michael Morgan: USC
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Morgan has been inconsistent throughout his career but there’s no denying his athleticism. From a talent standpoint—the 6‘4" senior is right at the top of the list for the position. There may be no other linebacker in the country that can rush the quarterback like Morgan.
He has to sure up his game, but the potential is there for big things.
12th Pick: S Mark Barron: Alabama
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The Alabama defense has a quality new leader in Mark Barron. The junior safety has learned well from defensive back guru Nick Saban and is now ready to accept the responsibility.
There are times when he still plays like a linebacker, but Barron has done enough to show he can be an Eric Berry-like defensive difference maker this year.
13th Pick: DE Adrian Clayborn: Iowa
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The Big Ten had a price to pay last season, they just didn’t know it.
Without warning, Iowa senior Adrian Clayborn decided to inflict his own form of punishment on the conference.
Clayborn made a living terrorizing opposing backfields in 2009 as he totaled 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss.
14th Pick: RB Daniel Thomas: Kansas State
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Thomas should be the favorite to win the Big 12 rushing championship once again this year after he ran for 1,265 yards last season in his first season at Kansas State.
The Wildcat runner proved that the amazing athleticism he showed at Northwest Mississippi was no fluke.
I haven’t dubbed a running back prospect a true "beast" since Steven Jackson, but Thomas is making a case for the honor.
15th Pick: CB Omar Bolden: Arizona State
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Bolden’s sophomore season was cut short by a knee injury in 2009, and he was limited to only three full games of experience.
That may stunt his growth somewhat, but if he’s 100 percent, the 5‘10" junior can run with any receiver in the country.
16th Pick: OT Joseph Barksdale: LSU
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Joseph Barksdale, a former defensive tackle recruit, cut his teeth at right tackle during his first three seasons in Baton Rouge. But the senior will move over to man the left side in 2010.
Barksdale is huge (6‘6", 315), and has the footwork and power to really impress scouts in 2010.
He has a strong resemblance to former Saints first round pick Jamaal Brown.
17th Pick: DT Jaye Howard: Florida
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You can talk about all the defensive line recruits you want to, but the real show on the Florida Gators defensive line is junior Jaye Howard.
Howard is a 6‘3" 300 pound ball of a muscle, who moves swiftly and packs a powerful punch at the point of attack.
18th Pick: RB LaMichael James: Oregon
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There’s no doubting LaMichael James has the quickness to make it at the pro level, but at 5‘9" 180 lbs.—how much punishment will he be able to take?
He's got the home run capabilities, but how is he going to hold up against the big bruising defenders of the NFL?
19th Pick: QB Ryan Mallett: Arkansas
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All of the top quarterback prospects will be interesting to watch this year, but I think Mallett tops the list as a must see prospect. His arm strength and size can’t be questioned, but there will be those that have concerns about Arkansas’ offensive system.
Mallett’s the kind of player whose stock could really fluctuate throughout the process. He could be a top ten pick, but first we'll have to see if he's improved in the areas he needed to work on.
20th Pick: S Deunta Williams: North Carolina
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Williams is probably the most underrated player on North Carolina’s defense.
While most of the talk continues to revolve around guys like Austin, Quinn, and Carter—Williams might be the one who’s the real key to the defense’s success this season.
He’s big, rangy, and can cover the field like few other defensive backs.
21st Pick: DE Sam Acho: Texas
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Sam Acho was one of a few talented Big 12 defensive lineman overshadowed by Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy last year. The senior end may only be 260 pounds, but he plays a lot bigger, and he showed in the Big 12 championship game that he can be a force to be reckoned with.
Texas coach Mack Brown has already stated he feels Acho has a bright NFL future ahead of him.
Expect Acho to build on his seven sacks from last season and to really have a standout year this season.
22nd Pick: TE Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame
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The tight end class looks pretty shallow this year after the early departure of Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham.
There are a few juniors who could emerge as a first round talents, and that list begins with Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudolph.
Rudolph has the desirable size (6'5" 260 lb.) and the former top tight end recruit should flourish in Brian Kelly’s new pass heavy spread offense.
23rd Pick: RB Mark Ingram: Alabama
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Here’s another player whose stock should really take some crazy bounces throughout the process.
Mark Ingram, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, may not wow you with his overwhelming speed or dynamic playmaking ability, but he’s the grind it out, get things done type of runner a lot of teams are looking for.
A few occasional breathers provided by the sensational Trent Richardson should keep Ingram fresh in 2010.
24th Pick: WR Chris Matthews: Kentucky
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Kentucky’s Chris Matthews could be the real wild card of this year’s receiving crew. At 6‘5'' 220 plus pounds, he definitely has the size, and if you believe all the reports about his athleticism, we might be dealing with something big here.
Kentucky assistant coach Tee Martin has already said he believes Matthews has first round potential. The senior will need more than the 32 catches he totaled in 2009 to get that type of recognition, but it’s a possibility.
25th Pick: DT Phil Taylor: Baylor
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If you’re looking for a true 3-4 nose tackle in the upcoming draft - there may be no better bet than Baylor’s big Phil Taylor.
Sure, the 6‘4" 350 pounder was wildly inconsistent in 2009, but Taylor’s the type of prospect with top ten talent who could be waiting until his final season to really break out.
The dismissal from Penn State will raise some red flags, but if Taylor plays to his potential, he's going to make a lot of noise this season.
26th Pick: CB Brandon Harris: Miami
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Harris is the elite level player that reminds you of the type of talent the Canes were bringing in during their dominant years.
He’s got all the skills to be a number one corner on an NFL team. His recognition has gotten better with time, and now he’s really ready to start shutting down the top receivers in the ACC.
27th Pick: DT Marvin Austin: North Carolina
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Marvin Austin has watched his name get dragged through the media mud this season after allegations surfaced about his alleged trips and agent contacts.
Austin possesses all the potential to be a top flight defensive tackle prospect, but he has yet to show his true full force ability and this incident doesn't put him in the best light.
He has a wild personality, which reflects in his sometimes erratic play. It should be interesting to watch Marvin’s saga continue to unfold.
28th Pick: WR Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma
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No he’s not 6‘4", and no he’s not a highlight reel waiting to happen.
No Ryan Broyles can’t be defined by his size or his flashy play. What he can be defined by is his consistency and productivity.
Broyles helped usher Landry Jones into Oklahoma's offense last season by giving the inexperienced young signal caller a reliable target to throw to.
Ryan’s 89 catches in 2009 should have everyone excited for what he's about to do this season.
29th Pick: DE Allen Bailey: Miami
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Allen Bailey has flip flopped between defensive tackle and defensive end for Miami during his three seasons at the school. Bailey will finish off his career at end where he should be able to take advantage of his quick penetration ability.
Bailey is a versatile and dangerous defensive lineman that must be accounted for on every snap.
30th Pick: WR DeVier Posey: Ohio State
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Terrelle Pryor’s got a great go to receiver in junior DeVier Posey. The 6‘3" pass catcher has speed to burn and is continually improving in every facet as a receiver.
The combo really started to heat up down the stretch last season, and they are a capable of putting together some great hookups in 2010.
31st Pick: LB Brad Jefferson: Georgia Tech
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When you get hit by Brad Jefferson, you know it.
Georgia Tech’s 6‘2" 240 lb. inside backer is one of the most physical players around and probably the best player on a talented defensive unit. Expect him to really take his play to the next level in Al Groh’s newly installed 3-4 defense.
32nd Pick: RB Mikel Leshoure: Illinois
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Built like Ryan Matthews with the same amount of speed, Leshoure was the one true player to watch on Illionis’ disappointing and lackluster 2009 offense.
In 2009, Mikel led the Big Ten in yards per carry with 6.8 and it wouldn’t be shocking if he repeated that feat once again this year.
He’s quick, powerful, and explosive, which are three really nice traits to have if your a running back.
Fringe First Rounders
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QB: Jerrod Johnson: Texas A&M
RB: John Clay: Wisconsin
WR: A.J. Green: Georgia
WR: Jonathan Baldwin: PITT
WR: Greg Childs: Arkansas
OT: Orlando Franklin: Miami
OG: Bryant Browning: Ohio State
DT: Cam Heyward: Ohio State
DT: Christian Ballard: Iowa
DE: Jeremy Beal: Oklahoma
DE: Marcell Dareus: Alabama
LB: Jon Cornell: Ole Miss
LB: Dont’a Hightower: Alabama
DE: Dontay Moch: Nevada
OLB: Von Milller: Texas A&M
OLB: Nigel Bradham: Forida State
CB: Chris Culliver: South Carolina
CB: Lametrius Davis: Hawaii
CB: Janoris Jenkins: Florida
S: Rahim Moore: UCLA
S: Will Hill: Florida
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